Nurses rocking around the...

It is said that this is the most joyous time of the year. Share your Christmas stories and tell us why. Read More

Do you think psychiatric care is inadequate in the US?

In this country a scene all too common is happening over and over in this country: a deranged man enters a public facility and starts shooting everyone. Its found out later in the news that he was suffering from XYZ Mental Illness... Read More

Top 10 - You Decide Who Wins 4th Quarter Article Contest

Select your favorite articles ... Four Writers Will Win A Total Cash Value of $600! The 4 articles with the most votes will each win $150!!! Thanks to all our writers. Read More

We need to advocate for better mental health

I am glued to the TV tonight watching the coverage of horrific events in Newtown, CT. My heart breaks for all involved. The victims and their families, the survivors, the responding police/fire/ems/counselors/Danbury Hospital....

Newtown is in my home state and I have nieces and nephews in school in CT....my heart stopped when I saw the first report. It restated when I saw it was not where they live.

Then I started to think about what I would do if it happened in my school. I have the shakes just thinking about it. Am I ready, really ready????? I dont know, I think I am.... Read More

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives, But Is It Realistic For All Nurses?

As healthcare workers, we all know that proper hand hygiene saves lives because it greatly helps to prevent the spread of microbes that cause lethal diseases. Reputable entities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and numerous other health-promoting groups all extol the benefits of good hand hygiene.

Is proper hand hygiene achievable in all healthcare settings? I know that the knee-jerk reaction to this question from many people would be a resounding “Yes!” However, I suspect that the vast majority of those who believe it is possible to maintain proper hand hygiene in all types of locales have never worked outside the acute care hospital. Proper hand hygiene is very much doable when a nurse is caring for five to seven patients on a medical/surgical floor, has alcohol foam pumps in every room, and abundant sinks throughout the hospital. But what about the nurses who work in long term care, home health, private duty, or community health settings? Read More

I Chart Too Much?!

My coworkers are always joking with me that I chart too much. It doesn't take up more time, I just chart everything I do. I have several jobs and at one job, for instance, I have two high acuity patients. Every time I do something with my patient I chart it. It is paper charting and I write very small. I can easily have a page and a half for each patient. A few of my coworkers may wait until the end of their shift to chart on everything. Some do as I do. After I preform a procedure, I chart. Read More

Regrets about Nursing?

I love being able to help the residents do things they can't do for themselves. There is nothing about the nature of the job that bothers me.

I hate that staffing is constantly such an issue. I hate that they make someone go home half way through each shift because of labor costs, and census, while they let people work ridiculous amounts of OT at time and a half because they don't know how to schedule coverage. No joke. For example on Christmas Day, afternoon shift, there are 3 CNAs scheduled when there should be a minimum of 7 with 1 person going home halfway through the shift. This isn't an isolated incident. It happens about half the time. Does it get better? Am I looking at things as CNA when as a nurse things are way better? Read More

What would you tell to your younger self?

I'm 19 years old currently taking prerequisites courses for the adn program in a community college, I'm developing a big passion towards taking care of patients in and out of the hospital. I volunteer at a local hospital and it's one of my greatest experiences so far. What would you guys do if time has flipped back and you were 19 again? Read More

Incidence of Specific Cancers Up for WTC Rescue Workers

For rescue/recovery workers at the World Trade Center (WTC), the incidence of prostate and thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma was increased for 2007 to 2008, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read More

Older nurse lacking computer skills

I have a problem. My mother who is 60 years of age has been a home care hospice nurse since the dawn of man. She is awesome at it. It is her passion and at this point in her life it is a huge part of her identity. Unfortunately about a year ago she suffered some health problems and is no longer able to do it because of physical limitations. A few months ago she was hired by one of the larger health care companies in the state as a triage nurse in their call center. Again she is dealing mostly with hospice cases which she likes but she is really struggling with the technology aspect of her new gig. She is putting in extra hours trying to learn but she is so worried that she is going to get canned because of her lack of computer skills. So I guess the point of my post is to see if any of you all have run into this issue and if there are any miracle classes or programs out there that will help teach her some skills. She is an awesome nurse and doesn't want to be put up on the shelf just yet! Read More

You Might Be The Last Person Whom The Patient Sees Before He Dies

In a nutshell, nurses and others who work in the healthcare sector should strive to treat all patients with professionalism and respect during each encounter. It is very possible that you might be the last person who ever sees or touches the patient before he dies. Read More